The things we surround ourselves with, how we eat, how we dress or how we furnish ourselves: It's not the quantity that makes the difference, but the quality. Well-made, beautiful, long-lasting things give us pleasure, accompany us and enrich us.

But how can we tell what is really good? By the price? By the origin, the craftsmanship, the tradition? By the Stiftung Warentest rating, by the organic seal - or perhaps by something else entirely?

Dirk Hohnsträter, an expert on consumer culture, argues for a new attitude to everyday life. His journey of discovery into the rich world of quality shows one thing: it's all about time - in production as well as in the search. It is about materials and workmanship, about function and form, about the relationship between value and price and, last but not least, about the art of enjoyment. There is a world full of great things out there. So let's sharpen our eye for the things that contribute to a better life.